Overhead door construction



Nov. 8, 1932. E. R. LYNCH v 1,886,490

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 8, 1932. E. R. LYNCH OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1930 M DE 77726172? yyzc Nov. s, 1932. E, R; LYNCH 1,886,490

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 8, 1932. E. R. LYNCH 1,886,490

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 4. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet .4

M ma? Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT FHCE ELMER R. LYNCH, OF VERMILION COUNTY, INDIANA, ASVSIGNOR TO ALLITH-PROUTY COMPANY, OF DAN VILLE, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Application led January 4, 1930. Serial No. 418,445.

This invention relates to an overhead door construction and more particularly to one wherein a door is lifted from its closed position to overhead position by swinging arms and is so constructed as to occupy relatively small amount of space above the doorway, whereby the space for the overhead door may be reduced to a minimum.

Iswinging of the levers in one direction and returned to closed position by swinging the levers in the opposite direction, together with instrumentalities effective to move the lower panel into substantially the same plane as the upper panel when the same is in either its opened or closed position.

An object of the present invention is to provide an overhead door construction Wherein a paneled door is actuated by a system of levers so associated with the door as to move the upper panel from closed position to an overhead position, and vice versa, through a curved path, by oscillating the levers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lever-supported two-part door wherein one part of thedoor is moved by the levers from closed position to overhead position by movement of the levers in one direction and another part of the door is moved into substantially the same plane as the upper part of the door by means rendered effective as said upper part is moved by the levers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an overhead door construction wherein a door may be moved entirely out of the doorway when in its overhead or opened position.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide an overhead door construction wherelng a door formed in two parts or panels,

which panels are hinged together horizontally, and levers are provided for swinging the upper panel from vertical or closed position to an overhead or substantially horizontal position in one direction of movement of the levers and from substantially horizontal or overhead position to substantially vertical or closed position when the levers are moved in the opposite direction, and the lower panel is provided with means for moving the same into substantially the same plane as the up.

per panel when said upper panel isin fully opened or fully closed position, the means being such as to retain the lower panel at all times within the door opening and not allow projection of the same outwardly of the openglhe invention also contemplates a novel counter-balance arrangement for the door so that but a slight force is necessary to cause the door to start its upward or opening movement or its downward or closing movement. The counter-balance is so arranged that the weight carried by the levers supporting the upper panel increases in proportion to the distance of the travel of the same, so that the amount of lift required to move the door decreases as the same moves upwardly and inwardly until a. perfect balance is reached, at

this position, whereupon the upper section or panel adds to the effectiveness of the counterweight system to lift the lower panel to fully opened position.

The invention further contemplates an arrangement for operation of the lower panel to allow the lower panel to hang freely during the initiation of the opening movement or toward the end of the closing movement to retain the lower panel within the door opening, i.e., inside of the same.

The invention also contemplates manual operation of the door, as well as mechanical operation of the same, the door, in either instance, being the same, and the only difference residing in the manner of applying power for raising and lowering the same.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a pair of arms connected to the upper panel near the top thereof, which arms move the upper edge of the upper panel through a curved path, and theprovision of another pair of arms connected adjacent the lower margin of the upper panel to move this margin through a curved path of greater curvature, so as to quickly move the upper panel lfrom its substantially vertical or closed position to its substantially horizontal or overhead position.

It is also a contempla-ted part of the invention to provide means for swinging the v lower panel into the substantial plane of the upper panel in either fully opened or closed position by means of extensions engaging guides for directing the lower panel as the upper panel is moved by the levers or arms.

The form of apparatus chosen to exemplify the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure l is a schematic elevational view looking at one wall of a Abuilding in which is installed an overhead 4vdoor construction embodying the present invention. Certain of the parts are diagrammatically shown for the sake of clearness. f

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental horizontal sectional view through a portion of the door and one j amb showing one form of locking means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental top plan view with certain parts of the illustrated form of the invention taken from the opposite side of the building from that illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic drawing showing certain positions assumed by the various parts during opening and closing movement and showing the arrangement. of the. parts when the door is in closed position. D

Figure 5 is a fragmental inside elevational view of a portion ofa door, a portion of the frame structure. and the wall in section of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmental elevational view of a modified form of the invention showing a roller track for carrying a portion of the Weight of the door in its opening and closing movements.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken substantially on line VII- VII of Figure 6.

Figure 8 1s a view similar to Figure showing a modification.

Figure 9 is an elevational view showing ap- 5 plication of spring counterbalance to illustrated form of door and taken on line IX- IX of Figure 8.

Figure l discloses the wall A of a garage orsimilar structure in which is installed an embodiment of the present invention. The doorway is dened by the header 1 and jamb 2.

The door illustrated includes two panels, parts or sections 3 and 4, which are horizontally hinged; together intermediate the top and bottom of the doorway. d

The hinge may be of any suitable construction. The illustrated form of hinge includes a plate 5 fastened to the upper panel or section 3 and a companion plate 6 fastened to the lower section 4. The pintle pin is extended beyond the plate 5 and 6 toward the side .margin of the door for a purpose to be later explained.

Referring to Figure 5, the reference numeral 7 indicates the exterior finish of a garage or like structure and 8 is a studding. f

There are two levers or arms 9 and 10 provided for moving the upper panel or sectionv 3 of the door from closed to overhead position or vice versa. Each of the arms or levers is pivoted at its lower end by a pivot pin 11 secured, in the present instance, in a floor block l2 fastened to the fioor in any suitable manner. The levers 9 and 10 are each arran ed inwardly of the margin of the door jam 2 so as to escape contact by any vehicle entering or leaving the garage or like structure.

The upper ends of each of the levers 9 and are pivotally connected near the top of the upper section or panel 3 of the door.

djacent each of the outer upper corners of the upper panel or section 3 is a plate 13 fastened to the panel, which plate has spaced ears 14 and 15 for receiving a pin 16. The endof the pin adjacent the side margin of the door extends beyond the ear 15 for pivotal connection with the upper end of the lever 9 o r 10 as the case may be.

The floor plates 12 are far enough back from the door opening to allow swinging movement of the arms 9 and 10 from closed position, which is that shown in full lines in Figure 1, to open position, which is that 1 shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, so as to carry the upper panel or section 3 of the door far enough inwardly so that the lower margin of the lower section or panel 4 will escape and be out of the door opening.

Brackets 17 are secured to the'studding 8 with one bracket on each side of the garage or similar building structure. The brackets 17 are attached above the floor and substantially rearwardly of and in alignment with the hinge of the door. Each of the brackets is provided with a pivotal offset portion to which is pivoted atj18 the inner end of an arm 0r lever 19, the outer end of which is l l that shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, along pivotally associated with a pintle of the door hinge.

There are two ofthe levers or arms 19, one on each side of the garage, near the levers 9 and 10. The arms or levers 19 are, of course, inwardly of the door jamb 2 to escape engagement by vehicles moving in and out through the door opening and also to allow proper clearance for said vehicles.

rlhe path of travel of the upper or free ends of the levers 9 and 10, i. e., the path of travel of the top margin of the upper door panel or section 3, is substantially that represented by line B in Figure 1, whereas the path of travel of the free ends of the levers 19 where the same are connected to the pintles of the door hinges is represented by the line C in Figure 1. Line C, it will be observed, is substantially an arc described on a shorter radius than the line B, in other words, the arcuate line C is described with a greater curvature than the line of travel B.

The pair of arms or levers 9 and 10, therefore, movethe upper margin of the top or upper section or panel 3 of the door from closed position, which is that shown in full lines in Figure 1, to open position, which is the path B, while the arms 19 move the lower margin of the upper panel or section along the path C, so that, when the arms 9 and 10 are in fully opened position, the upper panel or section 3 is substanially in a horizontal position, which is the overhead or open position of this panel of the door.

The lower panel or section 4 of the door is provided with a pair of rearwardly eX-' tending extensions or arms 2O which, in the present instance, are illustrated as consisting of L-shaped members suitably fastened to the inner surface of the lower panel or section 4 and extending inwardly or rearwardly thereof adjacent the top margin of the lower panel 4. The free ends of each of the arms 2O are provided with rollers 21.

Above the arms 19 when the door is in closed position and with one in each side wall of the structure is provided a curved guide plate 22 which is secured in position by angle plates 23 fastened to the wall structure. The outer edge of the guide plate 22 is arranged so as not to extend beyond the outer margin of the studding 8 or of any ttings that may be secured on the studding. In other words, the guide plates 22 Vare inwardly of the nished wall of the building.

The plates 22 are arranged with the lower ends thereof overlying the rollers 21 on the arms 2O when the door is in closed position and spaced a slight distance above these rollers when the door is closed.

The lower section or panel 4, being hinged to the upper section or panel 3, will, when the upper section or panel 3 is started in its opening movement, hang freely suspended from the hinges, thus at all times being within or inside of the door opening.

As soon as the door starts in its opening movement, i. e., the levers 9 and 10 are swung to the left, as viewed in Figure 1 of the drawings, the top margin of the panel or section 3 will be moved inwardly, while the lower margin, i. e., the hinged margin, will, because of the levers 19 start upwardly. rlhe lower or panel 4 is, therefore, free to hang perpendicularly and continues hanging perpendicularly until the levers 9 and 10 are near the perpendicular position of the same, whereupon the rollers 21 engage underneath the guide plates 22, and continued movement of the levers 9 and 10 to the left will, therefore, cause the lower margin of the lower panel 4 to swing outwardly and upwardly, the amount of outward and upward swinging being governed by the curvature of the guide plates 22. Continued movement of the levers 9 and 10 to the left will cause the upward and outward movement of the lower margin of the lower panel or section 4 to continue until, when the upper panel or section 3 is in its overhead or fully opened position, the lower panel or section 4 will be substantially in the same plane as the upper panel or section 3, i. e., in overhead position and wholly within the.` garage or similar structure and free of the door opening or doorway. The plates 22 are curved at the upper ends to cause the final upward movement of the lower margin of thevlower panel or section 4 to quickly assumefsubstantially horizontal position as the levers 9 and 10 reach the end of movement to the left, as viewed in Figure 1.

e It will be observed that in this condition the levers 19 are substantially vertical, so that all of the weight of the doo-r sections or panels is supported on the levers 9 and 10 and 19 and the guide plates 22. i

The weight of the upper door section or panel 3 is borne at all times by the levers 9,

and 19, which levers also necessarily bear the weight of the lower section or panel 4.

A counterbalance structure is provided,

consisting in the present instance of a coun-V terbalance weight 24 which is fastened at `one end of a suitable cable 25 which is arranged at the rear of the garage or similar structure. The cable 25 passes over a pulley 26 secured near the upper rear corner of the building. The cable 25 passes forwardly to and is connected to the door or to the arms or levers 9 and 1() near the upper ends of the same, whichever connection is more convenient.

The present form of connection includes two cables 25a, the outer ends of .each of which are attached near the outer upper corners of the upper panel'or section 3 of the door, and the inner ends of which are led backwardly and connected at 27 to the cable 25. This arrangement is, in eldect, a bridle iet i same.

constant, hence, it is evident that the amount so that the pull exerted by the counterweight is distributed evenly to the upper corners of the upper panel or section 3 to prevent twisting of the same when being moved in either direction.

There is illustrated in Figure 1 a motor 28 connected by suitable gearing within the casing 29 to the pulley 26 for mechanically actuating the cable 25 and the attached door. This motor may be installed when mechanical operation is desired.

It is Within the purview of this invention to employ the pulley 26 without the motor 28 and gearing 29 so that operation of the door may be effected. In such instance, the weight of the door is so counterbalanced by the weight 24 that but a slight lift on the door is necessary to cause it to move upwardly and inwardly at the top. As the door sections 3 and 4 continue to move upwardly through the arcs B and C, as described, the weight carried by the arms 9 and 10 and 19 increases in proportion to the distance of the travel of the The tension of the cable 25 remains of lift required to move the door decreases as the same moves upwardly and inwardly until a perfect balance is reached, which is when the levers 9 and 10 have moved about halfway of the travel of the same, i. e., when the same are in vertical position. The upper panel or section 3 from this point travels downwardly past this center, adding its weight to the counterweight and thus readily raising the lower section or panel 4 quickly and easily.

The efect created by the weight of the upper door section or panel 3 increases as the longer levers or arms 9 and 10 leave deadcenter and move toward the left and while the shorter levers 19 approach dead-center, which is the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

By the time the levers 9 and 10 have reached dead-center, the rollers 21 on the arms or extensions 20 have engaged the guide plates 22, causing slight movement of the lower section or panel 4 outwardly, and the retarding action is very slight. However, as

the ylevers 9 and 10 move to the left from this mid or dead-center position, the power gained by the weight of the upper section or panel 3 plus the counter-weight 24 increases as it continues to swing to the left. This action reaches its maximum when the lower section or'panel 4 reaches its substantially horizontal position, which is that shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The weight of the lower section or panel 4 in this position exerts a pull through the extensions or arams 20 almost equal to the combined forces of' the counterbalance weight 24 and the weight of the upper panel or section 3 so that a slight pull downward on the lower edge of the "flower'panel 4 causes the door to start movement in a closing direction. This pull may be but a slight one and need be applied only until the point of balance or dead-center is passed, whereupon the door will drop of its own weight to closed position. `The counterbalance, of course, checks too fast dropping of the door to completely closed position.

The lower outer corners of the lower panel or section 4 are cut away to provide recesses 30. Cam hooks 31 are secured to the frame structure for entering these recesses 3() as the door reaches its closed position, and thus forcing the lower margin of the door tightly against the door j amb 2. The arms 19, as the door moves to closed position, force the hinged portion thereof tightly against the door jamb 2. In like manner, the upper mar- 4 gin of the upper section or panel 3 1s moved against the door amb 2 by the construction of the parts and the fact that the weight of the door moves the levers 9 and 10 to the right, i. e., to full line position of Figure 1, thus the door is moved into tightly closed position.

The door, when in closed position, rests on the floor and preferably in a shoulder 32 formed across the front edge of the floor adjacent the door opening. The entire weight of the door panels or sections is carried on the arms which move about the centers or pivot points in such manner as to place the door panels or sections in desired positions. These centers or pivot points may be varied to meet the needs of particular cases. Furthermore, the arms may beso laced as to wedge the door against the jam as tightly as desired, which wedging action does not affect the opening operation.

The length of the cable 25 is so arranged that when the door is '1n-fully opened position the counterweight 24 will rest on the floor so that no overhead bracing or support is necessary to carry heavy weights or like structures.

The position of the guide plates 22 provides the necessary action for the lower panel or section 4, causing it to swing outwardly and upwardly without having to extend through the door opening. It also prevents the upper section or panel 3 from swinging inwardly too rapidly and enables" the operator to close or open the door with little effort. v

The construction herein described and illustrated in a preferred form, as will be observed, eliminates rollers or tracks, thus reducing friction and wear to a minimum. It also supplants combinations of cables and pulleys in use on some types of doorsl at the present time. No springs are necessary for actuating the door, and the counterbalance weight remains constant, so that the resulting stress is the same at all times and in all positions of the door. The counterbalance weight may be attached directly'to the door or: to the swinging arms, preferably near the top of the door, and is fastened at each side of the door so as to cause the door to pull toward the center. n

The counterweight may be quickly adjusted for proper balancing of the door by adding or removing such weight as Inlay be necessary.

A further advantage arising from a door constructed in accordance with this invention is that the door is at all times within the building or garage and above the door opening when in fully opened or overhead position, and no space is wasted in the opening and closing movements.

A further advantage resides in the fact that the same hardware may be used for openings of different widths and sizes and the same principle may, of course, be applied to a door for any size or width of opening. It is, furthermore, economical in that it requires no special parts other than the proper lengths of the various levers or arms 9, 10 and 19.

A further advantage resides in the fact that when starting the opening movement the bottom of the lower panel 4 does not kick out at the bottom.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification wherein is provided a track 33 which may be used if desired to receive rollers 34 should it be desired to support the door on rollers instead of carrying all the weight thereof on swinging arms.

The track 33, it will be observed, is curved downwardly at each end for the purpose of moving the upper margin of the upper panel quickly away from the door opening on the initiation of the opening movement and also for closing the upper margin of the -upper panel tightly against the door-opening at the end of the closing movement. The track is curved at the inner ends for the purpose of aiding in retaining the door in overhead or open position.

Another track 47 may be used, with track 33 to guide the lower panel 4 in its opening and closing movements and to support some of the weight of the panel.

The guide plates 22 will be longer and of slightly diiferent curvature so as. to be 'engaged by the rollers 21 when the door is closed, as well as when it is opened and in intermediate positions. |The weight of the door panel 4 and the arrangement of lever arms 2O coact to maintain the rollers 21 against the guides 22 throughout the travel of the door. Such action, therefore, moves the bottom panel 4 into substantially horizontal position, in the opening movement ofthe door,l

and into vertical position in the closing movement.

The levers 19 would not be utilized when 'the tracks 33 were em loyed. f

lower corners of the bottom panel 4 as at 30, so that binders 48 may be installed in some other manner as by attachment to the door.

rlhe invention is not limited to a twopaneled door as shown, but may be used with doors constructed with a. different number of panels.

One form of door lock is illustrated in Figures 1- and 2 and as illustrated includes a key lock 49 operated by a key 50, which, in turn, turns a crank 51 to which is attached a lever 52. The upper end of the lever 52 is fastened to an arm 53 under which is interposed a spring 54 for maintaining the lever 52 in locking position. A keeper 55, secured to the header, is positioned to be engaged by a cam 56 on the arm 53. Any other suitable locking mechanism might be employed if desired.

Figures 8 and 9 show a modification wherein the counterbalance means includes a retractile spring connected near the bottom of the door for moving the same in its opening direction of movement and for checking the descent of the same in its closing direction of movement.

Figure 9 is a somewhat diagramamtical representation o-f the various parts illustrating a door having an upper panel3, the lower panel 4, the usual doorwayy 2 and header frame structure la. I

A pair of levers 9 andl 10, only one of which `appears in Figure 9, are connected to the top of the panel 3 by pivotal connections such as illustrated in Figures?) and 1. Shorter levers `19 are pivoted at18 to brackets 17 secured tothe side frame structure of the garage or other building where the door is installed.

Arms 35, similar to' arms 20 illustrated in the other figures but illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 as shorter, are secured to the lower panel 4v adjacent the hinge of the same. The arms 35 carry rollers 36 which cooperate with an upwardly and rearwardly curved guide 37 secured to the wall structure of the building in any suitable manner.

rlhe form of counterbalance illustrated in Figures 3 and 9 consist of a retractile spring 38, which, at one end, is connected to the door by ahook or similar attaching member' 39 and at the other end is secured to ,a clevis 4Q which is associated with a pulley 41.

A cable, rope or similar member 42 is attached to the overhead framing of the building as by a hook 43 or like member, which rope then passes under the pulley 41 and then upwardly over another pulley 44 carried in the overhead framing of the garage or similar building and illustrated as secured thereto by a hook 45. The rope 42 then is passed downwardly, where it is connected to a hook 46 secured near the lower margin of the door, in the present instance being illuskel iso n trated as fastened near the bottom of the lower panel 4.

The weight of the door and the position of the levers 9 and 10 in the modification of Figures 8 and 9 tend to hold the door in closed position with the lower inner margin of the bottom engaging a shoulder 32 formed in the oor of the building. The levers 9 and 10 maintain the top margin of the door against the header frame member la or against the header 1 of Figure 1.

The door is opened by applying slight pressure to raise the same, whereupon the levers 9 and 10 will swing about the pivots 11 thereof, moving the top margin of the door inwardly and upwardly in an arcuate path, whereupon the retractile spring 38 will become effective to draw the pulley 41 downwardly, thus raising the lower edge of the door. The rollers 36 thereupon engage the curved guide 37 in a manner described with reference to the other form ofthe invention and will move the door upwardly into a horizontal overhead position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9. The door is closed by applying slight downward pull on the lower edge of the door, whereupon the weight of the door will tend to elongate the spring 38 as the door is lowered into closed position. However, the parts are so balanced and arranged that4 downward movement of the door will be no faster than desired, and the door may be stopped and retained in any position to which it is moved in either openingor closing direction.

igure 9 is taken substantially on line IX-IX of Figure 8, showing frame members 57 and 58. The guide strips 37 may be fastened to the frame members 57 and 58 if desired.

It will beobserved that an overhead door construction embodying this invention is simple, eicient, effective in making tight closure between the door and the door opening and one which does not require special parts or machinery.

Should it so happen that the interior of the garage or other structure is finished, the guide plates would be within the plane of the finish and plugs would be provided adjacent the plates so that the roller 21 on the extensions or arms 20 might engage the guide plates 22.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet itis to be understood as not to be limited thereto, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A n overhead door construction including in combination a air of swinging levers pivotally connected a jacent the top margin of a door.; another pair of 'swinging levers pivotally connected to said door below the top margin thereof, said last mentioned levers being shorter than the first mentioned levers, counterbalance means connected to said door, and guide means engageable by the shorter levers to direct the door into substantially horizontal overhead position.

2. An overhead door construction including a door consisting of two sections horizontally hinged together, a pair of swinging levers connected to the upper sections near the top of the same, a pair of shorter levers pivotally connected adjacent said hinge, a counterbalance connected to said door, and guide means engaging said shorter lever to direct the door into substantially horizontal position when said door is moved to open position.v

3. An overhead door construction includin a 'two-section door with the sections thereo horizontally hinged together, a pair of oscillating levers arranged one adjacent the side margin and pivotallysupported at the lower ends thereof near the Hoor and pivotally connected at the upper ends to the upper door section, a second pair of similar levers shorter than the first mentioned air pivoted at the inner ends above the floor or side suport and at the outer ends to the door adjacent the hinge, means for swinging said levers in one direction to open the door and in an opposite direction for closing the door, said levers so connected as to move said door into substantially horizontal position above (the door opening when actuated to open the 4. AnY overhead door construction including a door consistin of two sections horizontally hinged toget er, a pair of swinging levers connected to the upper section near the top of the same, another pair of swinging levers connected to said hinges, means for swinging said levers to move the upper section of the door from vertical to substantially horizontal position above the lever pivot, and curved guides cooperating with said lower section to direct thev same into substantially the same plane with the upper section.

v5. An overhead door construction including a door consisting of two sections horizontally hinged together, a pair of swinging levers connected to the upper section near the top of the same, another pair of swinging levers connected to said hinges, the pivoted ends of said second pair of levers being pivoted above the pivoted ends of said' first mentioned pair, means for swinging said levers to move the upper section of the door from vertical to substantially horizontal position,

-and'curved guides cooperating with said lower section to direct the same into substantially 4the same plane with said upper section.

6. An overhead door construction including a door consisting of two sections horizontally hinged together, a pair of swinging levers connected to the upper section near the top of the same, another pair of swinging levers connected adjacent said hinges, said second mentioned levers being shorter than the first mentioned levers, means to swing said levers to move the upper section of the door from vertical to substantially horizontal overhead position, and curved guides cooperating with said lower section to direct the same into substantially the same plane with said upper section.

7. An overhead door construction including a two part door with the parts thereof horizontally hinged together, a long lever pivoted near the floor at one end and at the other end to the upper door part, a shorter lever pivoted at one end above the pivot of said first lever and at the other end to said hinge, an arm fixed to the lower part of and extending inwardly of said lower part, a curved guide engageable by said arm' for directing said lower part into substantially the plane of the upper part as said upper part is moved to the end of its path of travel in either direction by movement of said levers about the pivots of the same.

8. An overhead door construction including a door comprising two horizontally hinged panels. apair of swinging arms supporting said door and arranged to move the edge of one panel thereor` along an arcuate path, another pair of swinging arms connected to said door to raise a portion of said door as said first mentioned arms move in one direction and to lower said portion as said first mentined .arms move in the opposite direction, and guided extensions secured to a part of the door to move the second panel in corresponding manner as said first arms are moved as described.

9. An overhead door construction including a door consisting of two horizontally hinged panels, a plurality of pairs of swinging arms connected to said door and constituting the sole support of the same,one pair of swinging arms supporting said door and arranged to move the edge of one panel thereof along an arcuate path, another pair of arms of different length connected to said door to move a portion of said door along an arcuate path of greater curvature than said first arcuate path, and a third pair of arms connected to said door to move a part thereof along a curved path ,of still different curvature.

l0. An overhead door construction including a door consisting of two horizontally hinged panels, a pair of swinging arms pivotally connected to the upper panel near the top thereof to move said top along a curved path, another pair of shorter similar arms pivotally connected adjacent the lower margin of said upper panel to move said margin along a curved path of greater curvature,

said lower panel having a rearwardly extending projection thereon and guide means engageable with the projection on said lower panel `for guiding the panel into substantially the same plane as said upper panel when the same reaches its end of travel in either direction.

l1. An overhead door construction including a door movable from vertical closed position to substantially horizontal overhead open position, a pair of arms connected to the door near its upper edge for swinging the upper edge of the door in an arcuate path, the other ends or'l said arms being pivoted adjacent the floor, other arms connected to other parts of the door for guiding it in its opening and closing movements, the other ends of said other arms being pivoted above the fioor and a spring counterbalance connected to the lower edge of the door for retaining said door in any position to which it is moved.

12. An overhead door construction including a vertically movable door consisting of two horizontally hingedpanels, arms connected to the upper panel for directing the same into substantially vertical and into substantially horizontal positions, rearwardly extending arms secured to the lower panel of the door,.and curved guides engageable by said arms for directing the lower panel into substantially the same plane with said upper panel when the latter has been moved to substantially horizontal or substantially vertical position by said first mentioned arms.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name at Danville, Ill., Vermilion County.

ELMER R. LYNCH. 

